Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Infinite Glory
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Hidden trait: Sword of Eternal Glory!
It was another hidden trait he possessed.
'Orcmaster Kankun. This is the power you gifted me.'
Back on the 10th floor of the Tower of Arrogance, when he had faced death.
Orcmaster Kankun had offered his own heart as a sacrifice to save Park Chan-woo.
Without a moment's hesitation, he had used not just his heart, but his very existence solely for Park Chan-woo's survival.
Park Chan-woo remembered it clearly.
The will he had left behind.
-Offer my heart to this warrior as a sacrifice. Then go and slay the 'Black Witch' together. I entrust our tribe's vengeance to you.
The time spent with Kankun didn't matter.
Even though they had met not long before, Kankun had called Park Chan-woo a 'warrior'.
He simply believed, without a shred of doubt.
Wasn't it truly foolish?
So idiotic.
How could he entrust his heart, his life, his very existence to another?
But.
Though he was truly naive...
Park Chan-woo remembered.
He remembered Kankun's bravery and Kankun's kindness.
Kankun had been an exemplary warrior.
He had overcome the fear of death, forgiven Adora who massacred his tribe, and even possessed the spirit of self-sacrifice.
'It was only natural that I took care of it myself, Kankun.'
However, even without Kankun's request, Park Chan-woo had no intention of letting the 'Black Witch' go unscathed.
Just like the other Creators, he planned to bankrupt her and erase her existence entirely.
The Black Witch's goal was to create the 'Lord of Arrogance' and bring chaos to the world.
In that process, Earth and humanity would be swept away like grains of sand on a beach.
Moreover, she was the one who had deceived both Adora and Kankun.
There was no way he could leave her be.
Park Chan-woo narrowed his eyes once more.
'Black Witch. You will never achieve what you desire.'
Neither creating the Lord of Arrogance nor recovering Wish and the Star of Arrogance.
The Black Witch would accomplish nothing.
...Especially since the dragonkin before him was a subordinate of the 'Black Witch'.
If he mistook him for 'Dragon God Sepiro', he could be used effectively.
It might even be possible to hinder the Black Witch and deal her a major blow.
Thud.
Park Chan-woo pressed the 'Greatsword of the Lion King' against the dragonkin's throat and spoke.
"What is your name?"
He asked naturally for his name.
Sepiro.
He didn't think the bastard knew all the other dragonkin names.
Especially the 'Tribe of Despair', who were far from Sepiro's inner circle.
How would Sepiro even know a mere member of a peripheral tribe?
Park Chan-woo's assumption hit the mark perfectly.
"A-Ataraxia...!"
"Ataraxia. You died here."
"......Yes. I committed a grave sin deserving of death. However, this was all my own arbitrary decision, so please spare the tribe..."
The dragonkin followed the witch.
Was there anything more shameful?
With Sepiro's temperament, he might wipe out the entire tribe.
At Ataraxia's earnest plea, Park Chan-woo slowly withdrew the greatsword.
"......?"
As doubt flickered in Ataraxia's eyes, Park Chan-woo gave a faint smile.
"You didn't see me, nor did you find what you were seeking. And from now on, you will continue to fail every mission given by the 'Black Witch'."
"......!"
Ataraxia instantly grasped the meaning of Park Chan-woo's words.
It meant the Ataraxia up until now was dead.
Be reborn and carry out Dragon God Sepiro's orders instead of the Black Witch!
If he hadn't misunderstood, that had to be it.
"...Yes. I saw nothing. And every task given by the Black Witch will end in failure."
Ataraxia's attitude was utterly solemn.
He seemed ready to die for real if ordered.
Watching Ataraxia's endless delusion, Park Chan-woo drove the wedge in deeper.
"Recognizing me at a glance and using the Black Witch. Your actions piqued my interest."
"Ah......! What an honor!"
And the reason Sepiro would act this way was simple.
Interest.
All of Sepiro's actions could be explained by 'interest' alone.
Hadn't he shown deep fascination upon meeting Park Chan-woo and even tried to dissect him?
If interested, Sepiro would overlook even heinous crimes and forgive them.
Conversely, if uninterested, he would ignore utterly or reveal his most cruel side.
That was Sepiro.
'Dragon God Sepiro has taken an interest in me...!'
Hope replaced despair in Ataraxia's eyes.
How glorious was this?
A crime worthy of death a hundred times over, yet mercy was granted, sparing his life.
Because the Dragon God had taken an interest in him.
His body trembled.
From overwhelming joy.
A tidal wave of emotions surged through Ataraxia's entire being.
This was the most intense feeling he had ever experienced.
A mere glance, a bit of attention, eliciting such an extreme reaction—but it showed just how sincere the dragonkin were toward their Dragon God.
'I have been chosen.'
Sepiro's interest meant being chosen.
No one from the Tribe of Despair had ever achieved this.
By using the Black Witch to hide his dragonkin identity and carry out the task, he had captured Sepiro's interest.
Above all, recognizing him as Dragon God Sepiro at first sight seemed to score high points.
Any other dragonkin would have struggled to be certain.
It was only possible because he had full knowledge of 'Wish' and the 'Star of Arrogance' thanks to the Black Witch.
"Ataraxia."
"Yes!"
Sepiro had called his name properly!
It felt like a dream.
At Ataraxia's dramatic reaction, Park Chan-woo erased his smile and said,
"There is something you must do for me."
"Command me."
Ataraxia bowed deeply.
He didn't ask what it was.
Whatever Dragon God Sepiro commanded, he would accomplish it without fail—that was his fierce resolve.
'He's completely hooked.'
Thanks to revealing the hidden trait 'Sword of Eternal Glory', Ataraxia didn't even consider doubting him.
If he ever learned it was all a delusion and a lie, the backlash would be unimaginable—but the chances were slim.
As long as he didn't meet Sepiro in person.
Besides, there were no 'Tribe of Despair' members anywhere along the path to the 'Dragon God Temple'.
Moreover, Ataraxia was just a regular member, not even the tribe's leader.
He would never meet Sepiro directly.
"I will ascend the Path of Light. Bind the feet of those pursuing from behind."
"As you command."
Park Chan-woo nodded slightly.
Lee Hyuk-soo was exhausted, and revealing himself further posed too great a risk.
The 'Moon's' gaze hadn't reached here yet.
But it was only a matter of time.
The moon hanging in the sky was Aheta's eye.
That eye was now scanning the entire 'Second Night' region.
To find the intruder Ataraxia and the one progressing the Legendary Quest—him.
'If Ataraxia draws their attention, progressing the Legendary Quest will be much smoother.'
He planned to throw Ataraxia to them as bait.
Focus all of Aheta's gaze on Ataraxia, and resolve the 'Legendary Quest' in the meantime.
"Leave it all to me, O Great One."
He was reliability itself.
This must be what it felt like to command a heavenly host.
As a bonus, Park Chan-woo tossed in one more line.
"I trust only you, Ataraxia."
"......Yes!"
He looked ready to shed tears.
Amused inwardly, Park Chan-woo returned the 'Greatsword of the Lion King' to Lee Hyuk-soo.
And slowly walked along the 'Path of Light'.
Hanshin followed the 'Path of Light'.
Someone progressing a Legendary Quest had to be on this path.
He didn't know who, but apparently even the doppelgangers weren't enough.
Well, Aheta had personally humbled his pride to ask him.
If they had already unlocked a Legendary Quest, it wasn't an ordinary foe.
'The intruder. Or that mage, probably.'
As Lee Hyuk-soo said, it could be the intruder.
There was even a chance the intruder had unlocked the Legendary Quest simultaneously.
But if not?
Only one person came to Hanshin's mind.
The mage who killed Su-sin during the Abyss Dungeon and conquered the Tower of Arrogance.
The one who had looked down on him mockingly right beside the Witch of Death, Adora.
He hoped it was the latter.
If it was the mage instead of an intruder, it would be far more entertaining.
'I hope he doesn't disappoint.'
However, one worry gnawed at him.
Hanshin. His own power had grown tremendously strong.
Hanshin raised his thin, sharp sword into the air.
It was a beautiful silver blade etched with a dragon motif.
A Legendary-grade treasure, the 'Hunter's Sword'.
Its marvel wasn't just the grade.
'Hunter's Sword. My exclusive equipment.'
It was 'exclusive equipment' prepared solely for Hanshin.
A contingency prepared by Aheta.
Though previously, that 'contingency' had been snatched away.
Not this time.
It was equipment no one else could equip even if bought.
No one would bother forcing a purchase.
And perhaps because it was 'exclusive', it fit perfectly in his hand.
It swung as naturally as moving his own arms.
Just holding it filled him with vitality.
Until now, he hadn't been serious, but after encountering the mage, Hanshin had earnestly focused on strengthening himself.
Since the mage had drawn out his true resolve, it was time to test their mettle.
'I hope he doesn't flee at the sight of this legion.'
Hanshin smiled leisurely as he glanced back.
An enormous legion of doppelgangers followed him.
He could handle a mere mage alone even without them.
But if he realized defeat was inevitable and fled, it would be a huge disappointment.
"Hm?"
It was then.
On the Path of Light.
Far ahead, someone was visible.
Someone who didn't retreat even upon seeing the doppelganger legion.
The man stood still, staring straight at Hanshin.
Without the slightest flinch.
As if he had been waiting.
'Who is that?'
But a face he didn't recognize.
Clearly a pursuer, yet not the mage he had hoped for.
Who could he be?
Everyone who encountered the doppelganger legion had fled in panic.
No exceptions.
Yet here was an exception.
Blocking his path precisely, with no intention of yielding.
'Could he be the intruder?'
Possible.
But no matter how he looked, the man was human from Earth.
He had heard intruders were definitely other races.
That was the moment.
At that instant.
Rumble!
Kwaaaaa!
A terrifying spell infused with the Dragon Tongue of Despair.
Fierce winds began to surge toward Hanshin like a typhoon.